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Masterpieces of Chinese Art: The History of Collecting in Japan

  • Image of "Buddhist Teachings for Muin Genkai, By Feng Zizhen (born 1257), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Matsudaira Naoaki, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)"

    Buddhist Teachings for Muin Genkai, By Feng Zizhen (born 1257), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Matsudaira Naoaki, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

    Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
    October 31, 2023 (Tue) - December 24, 2023 (Sun)

    The Tokyo National Museum holds a thematic exhibition on the masterpieces of Chinese paintings and calligraphy in its collection every autumn. This year, the exhibition focuses on the history of collecting Chinese art in Japan. Chinese artworks in Japanese collections can be divided into three categories based on when they arrived in Japan: “Old Arrivals” for objects that came to Japan before the Muromachi period (1392–1573), “Edo Arrivals” for those that arrived during the Edo period (1603–1868), and "Late Arrivals" for objects that came after the mid-1800s.
    “Old Arrivals” includes stately artworks from the Tang to the Yuan dynasties (618–1368), while “Edo Arrivals” reflects the new tastes of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). “Late Arrivals” includes traditional literati paintings and calligraphy. The works on display reflect how Japanese preferences for Chinese art changed over time.

    List of Exhibits

Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.

Two Sparrows and Plum Blossoms, Attributed to Ma Lin (dates unknown), China, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Yamamoto Tatsurō, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

Deities, Artist unknown , China, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 14th–15th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Reiunji Temple, Tokyo, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Summer Landscape, Attributed to Hu Zhifu (dates unknown), China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century (National Treasure, Lent by Kuonji Temple, Yamanashi, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, By Liang Kai (dates unknown), China, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

The Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Guanyin, Artist unknown, China, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Eihoji Temple, Gifu, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Arhat, By Cai Shan (dates unknown), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Landscapes, By Li Shizhuo (1687–possibly 1770), China, Qing dynasty, 18th century (On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

Four Views of the Mulan Hunting Grounds, By Qian Weicheng (1720–72), China, Qing dynasty, 18th century (On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

Figures and Landscape, By Huang Shen (1687–possibly 1770), China, Qing dynasty, 1727 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujirō, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Landscape with Figures, By Shangguan Zhou (1665-?), China, Qing dynasty, 1737 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujirō, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Buddhist Teachings for Teki Zōsu, By Liao'an Qingyu (1288–1363), China, Yuan dynasty, 1341 (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Matsudaira Naoaki, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

Buddhist Teachings for Muin Genkai, By Feng Zizhen (born 1257), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Matsudaira Naoaki, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Poem in Cursive Script, By Wang Jianzhong (dates unknown), China, Ming dynasty, 16th century (, Gift of Mr. Ichikawa Sanken)

Volume 6 of the Book of Documents in the Old Script, Artist unknown , China, Tang dynasty, 7th century (National Treasure, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

Volumes 29 and 30 of Collected Writings of Wang Bo, Artist unknown , China, Tang dynasty, 7th-8th century (National Treasure, On exhibit from November 28, 2023)

Manuscript for the Stele Inscription of the Xuanmiaoguan Temple Gate in Standard Script, By Zhao Mengfu (1254–1322), China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (, On exhibit through November 26, 2023)

The Former and Latter Northern Expeditions in Standard Script, By Zhu Yunming (1460–1526), China, Ming dynasty, 1514 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)

Inkstone, China, Ming dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Ichikawa Sanken)

Exhibitions